From Biker Rallies to Music Management: Danielle Mashuda's Wild Ride

I'll help you. I'll help you. Start [music] a revolution. For this Monday morning love situation. >> Hey, what's up everybody? This is Cam, aka the Honky Tonk Hair Machine with the Rugged Revival. Who am I with today? >> Hey, I'm Danielle Mashuda from Keystone Artist Connect and new owner of Club Cafe in Pittsburgh. >> Fantastic. Thank you for sitting down with me, Danielle. I appreciate you. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> So, I like to ask this first question. Kind of gives us a little peek behind the curtain of who you are. You can answer as much detail as you want or as little detail as you want. Just a little snippet of who you are. So, where are you from originally and what was life like for you as a kid? >> All right. Um I'm from Pittsburgh, born and raised. Um spent a lot of time not in Pittsburgh, but uh as a kid, um my dad was a biker. So, I I'm pretty much doing the same thing I did when I was a kid. Uh when I was like seven, I was going to biker rallies, seeing Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker, all the old school, you know, outlaw country back then. Way back before all the people died, so that was kind of cool. Now I see them and I get sad cuz I lost my dad. >> [laughter] >> It reminds me of those days. But yeah, it's funny. I I found a picture the other day of myself as like a five-year-old and I'm wearing all denim and like a Mickey Mouse shirt and my hair is up just like this and I'm cowboy boots. So, not much has changed in, you know, 40 years. So. >> Tried and true. I love it. >> Yeah, pretty pretty uh you know, par for the course. I stick to my stick to my systems, I guess. >> So, you mentioned uh you know, a little bit of earlier influences there. Do you remember what was like your first live concert that you saw like on your own? >> Never forget. It was Bon Jovi and 38 Special in 1987. >> Hell yeah. >> My brother and I don't like each other now, but he did introduce me to rock and roll. And so, you know, I went from the outlaw country that my dad listened to. My brother's 11 years older than me. So, I ended up in the rock you know, he let let me hear Motley Crue Motley Crue and I was hooked. And then he took me to that Bon Jovi 38 Special concert and you know, I'm still to this day 38 Special is one of my favorite bands. Bon Jovi not so much. But uh yeah, then I like went and saw Bon Jovi and Cinderella three nights in a row and I was hooked on the hair bands for very big part of my life all all of my teenage years. I used to play guitar and and all that. Then I turned 18 and I got a Trans Am and started running around with local bands and quit playing guitar and it's the biggest regret in life cuz who knew that you know, all these years later my whole life would be musicians, you know. You don't think that. >> It's awesome. I I love that. We you know, I have a deep love for all those 80s hair metal bands, too. And you know, there's uh you know, always a soft spot for anytime you hear those bands, right? Bon Jovi, Motley Crue. It's going to get you riled up. >> I feel like when we first met we talked about this. I don't we maybe you had Motorhead shirt or something, but I remember that first day in the RV we had a hair band rock. >> Absolutely. Yeah, I think uh yeah, probably had or had my um I have like a Motorhead uh western shirt and a bolo. >> I think that might have been what it was. >> Yeah, I tend to go pretty heavy on the Motorhead. >> [laughter] >> I wouldn't Yeah, it's it's funny cuz you know, I don't remember yesterday or what I wore or what I'm supposed to do from an hour ago, but you put on a hair band song I know every single word still all these years later. >> That's the magic of music. I really think like certain bands, certain songs even will transport you back to a time. >> Yeah. >> I love it. I was listening to Steve Earle on my way home today and uh I just remember driving around my dad's pickup truck listening to Steve Earle. >> Yeah, and it's you know, you you think about all of these different things. It's like something I do now where like um the Mad Dog Margarita song. Again, I can't remember anything about the Texas Chili Parlor. Um why can't I say it? But anyway, you hear the song and then you're in Texas and then you go there and you're like and then you have a Mad Dog Margarita and you're like, how cool is this? Right? So we just did we just took Sarah there for the first time last time we were in Texas. You know, it's music is just such a cool thing and it can do so much, you know, create new memories, build old memories. It's built my entire life of friends, you know, it's it's where I know everybody from is from concerts and festivals. >> Yeah, and even you know, even if you can't get together in person every day like when we were little kids, you know, the cool thing is like we can do stuff like this, you know, and still connected. I love that. Um If you're able if you're able to share this information, who was the first band that you managed? >> Oh gosh. It was Okay, my friend and I, Sammy, she lives in Denver. She's a publicist now actually. She was my first podcast I ever did too, which is cool. All these years later she just had me on her podcast. And we started a management company in like maybe 2003 and it was called Three Star Management and we managed Oh gosh. What were there My friend Missy was in a band and it was like a funk band. Oh, I can't remember I'm so terrible. I can't remember their names. We remember we managed that band and then we managed another band that I also can't remember the names. I remember like the guys in it and that was like the first tour I ever went on. They had a show in California. So we left from Denver. It was like it was like Two Tone Jones or something. It was like a really weird name. I don't remember why. And uh it was my first time in a van and we broke down in Utah and we're stranded there for like 3 days, went to Vegas, went to California. And like all of that just seems so like ridiculous now. You know, like it's it was just so not real. And like now it's real. So it's funny. So it's been a a while back in the 2000s. Um I used to book and help out with the Cordovas quite a lot. I was real good friends with Joe Firstman, the leader of the band. Um and when I didn't have a job at one point, he let me help do some booking. So that's kind of like what started my current love of it. But I've always been a part of music and a few years ago, right before I started Keystone, my friends, we were in Nashville and they're like, "Why don't you just start your own company? Like this is all you do is hang out with your friend musicians and try to help." And they're like, "Do it for real." And I was like, "Okay." And that's how it all started. Yeah. >> It's funny because, you know, the early 2000s to me wasn't that long ago, but so much has changed in the landscape of like being on the road, how we book, how you tour. All of that has changed so much. And you you thinking back reminded me, I remember being on the road and uh our friend Dave was driving and all of a sudden the side windows of the van blew out. >> Yeah. >> And it's just And we're like, "We got cardboard and duct tape." And we said, "Look, we still have a gig to play. So we got to roll on." >> We just did that last year. We were in I've got this monstrosity of an RV. You've been in it. And uh we were out on the road with The Way More's, Tyler James Kelly, who you haven't met yet. But um thank god Tyler was driving because Sarah and I split, you know, we drive probably the majority of the time. And Tyler was driving. We were headed to um Wall Drug. I don't know if you've ever been to Wall Drug in South Dakota. >> I've seen them. Yeah. >> It's cool. It's like a big truck stop that was like one of the original truck stops that gave away like free water and it has this giant jackalope you can get on. It's It's real kitschy. So, none of the people had been to Wall Drug or that they knew. And I'm like, "We got to go to Wall Drug." So, we're about 20 minutes outside of Wall, South Dakota. And we're in the slow lane, thank god, doing about 80. And the inside tire blew and I heard the loudest bang ever. Like the metal rod flew up and like blew up the bend of the RV and Tyler's merch just scattered across the highway. >> Oh, no. >> and I are like in the middle of the highway try like thank god it wasn't that busy. And we're only 20 minutes away. So, we called the Waymore's they were in a van. And we're like, "Double back. Double back. We broke down." And we drove it to Wall. And luckily, I mean, we couldn't have gotten any lucker luckier. We were off for 2 days. And so, we it was a weekend we couldn't get anyone to fix it till Monday, but we didn't have a show until Monday night. So, it all worked out, but we were stranded in Wall, South Dakota for a bit, which wasn't great, but we had fun. Luckily, the Waymore's had a van and we did some cool touristy things, but >> Yeah, that's when you don't expect that, you know, you don't see it coming. That's terrifying. >> Yeah, and if I was driving, we would have probably been dead. I mean, I I would have panicked. So, I'm glad he was driving, thank god. >> Yeah. >> didn't The merch wasn't so lucky. >> I think I saw some of that come across on Instagram. >> Yeah. >> So, outside of you know, rod shooting through your RV, what are what some of the biggest challenges you face when it comes to managing bands? >> Oh, man. I mean, you know, it's it's the hardest job in the world. Like what other job do people have to pay 30 to 50,000 dollars to work? You know, like if you got to you're doing a record, you've got to figure out that money, you're on the road, you can't afford gas, you sleep at gas stations. I wouldn't change it for the world. I mean, I love it. I love I love being on the road. I've always enjoyed it and but to see these artists struggle day-to-day, you know, everything, oh, you don't have this right amount of numbers. Well, those numbers don't translate to tickets and you don't get paid without the ticket sales and it's just such a crazy vicious circle that that we live in and just try to navigate every day. So, there's tons of challenges. Booking's a challenge, traveling's a challenge, now with the gas prices. But, we do it all for the love of music, so it's worth it, you know. >> That's right. Yeah, I was even uh talking with somebody, might have been uh last week at some point, who were just saying how like, you know, I've seen bands with thousands of followers on Instagram play to nobody and and vice versa and it's like like how do you translate numbers on social media or the internet into asses in the seat? >> Yeah. I mean, it's it's crazy and it's weird now that I see it as a fan, I see it as a manager and now I see it as a venue owner. So, I get it from every single side and, you know, granted, this was a holiday weekend, you know, people should be in town for the holidays and we had uh a band Friday night. There were only about 30 people here. We had Cory Branan. Do you know who Cory Branan is? >> I've heard of him. >> Uh he's incredible. Check him out, you'd like him. He He's uh him and Ben Nichols have been like best friends for years and uh that's how I initially heard about him 15 years ago and I've been a big fan ever since and it was a true honor to have him here on on Saturday night. And again, he's been doing it for years. He just opened for Tyler Childers at these huge, you know, 30,000 people sold out shows. We had 30 people here on a Saturday night and, you know, it's it's getting harder and harder, I think, you know, with the economy and you never know what's going to happen. It's scary, really scary. Maybe Maybe buying a venue wasn't smart, but I mean I love it. I can't can't say it. >> Well, it's I think any small business owner can relate to that where it's, you know, at times it feels like it's feast or famine. >> Yeah. >> You know, when when you're high, you're high. And those lows, when they hit, those lows suck. >> Yeah, it's hard. It's really hard, but you know, I just have to constantly saying constantly believe that it always comes back around. You know, right now I might be negative in my bank account. Who knows? I might not have paid the electric bill this month, but you know, it's >> Yeah, absolutely. And And you know what? Like, you know, like monetarily, it's like yeah, it's nice to have the bills paid and get some food on the table. And you look, man, you can't take it with you, right? It's like, what are you going to do with it? So >> feel. And I mean, I mentioned earlier I lost my dad. Uh, it was in 2010 and I'd never traveled. I never All I I worked three jobs my whole life. Um, and I swore He passed away really suddenly and I changed my whole perspective on life. And now I just I won't say no to anything. Like, whatever I want to do, I'm going to do it. And you know, I go on the road with these bands. I don't make barely any money, but the experience is worth its weight in gold. Like, I I love going to festivals. I love being at shows. I love meeting promoters. I love meeting fans. Like, it's the best job in the world, even if you don't make any money. You know. >> Yeah, absolutely. And that's, you know, you're being you're a part of something much bigger than yourself. You know, when when our time comes and we we pass on, that will transcend us. >> Yeah. >> And but at least at a moment in time, you helped support a certain scene in that time. I think that's that's fantastic. >> Right. I'm living the life like that I want to live. You know, like everyone's always just like, "How did How did you do this?" or "How do you do this?" I'm like, "Oh, I just infiltrate people." Like, Silverada, I'm there probably I you know, I like to say I'm one of their number one fans. >> Mhm. >> And I consider them now some of my best friends in the whole world. And I don't know. I'm probably just that crazy fan that they don't really like, but they're nice to me. I don't I don't care. We have fun and I love them so much. So it's like they're playing Devil's Backbone in a couple weeks. And my best friend and I and all our friends from Chicago, we skipped Mile Zero this year. And that's where we all normally meet up, the whole Chicago crew and the whole Pittsburgh crew. And nobody was able to go this year. So we're all doing this trip in 2 weeks. So we've got about 15 of our music family going out. We're just living for it. We've been texting every day in the group text. You know, we just can't wait. So it's like you just have to live the life you want to live and not really worry about everything else. >> Yeah. >> Always going to be something to worry about. >> Yeah. And if you're grinding away, the bills will get paid. >> Exactly. >> So when it comes to looking for um a band to manage or even to road manage, um what do you look for in a band when you you decide to take them on? >> You know, honestly, I've never actively looked for it. Um you know, when I uh when I was with Taylor and them, um Rachel from the Vandoliers had said, "Hey, I met this girl. You got to meet you know, this band. You would love them." And Taylor and Bucky called me and we just got along great. And at the time, they were talking to me and talking to Nate. And I was really scared cuz I had just started my company. I was like, "I don't I knew they were about to be big and I didn't have the confidence." I was like, "I don't know if I'm what you need because I think you're about to blow up and I don't know if I can do that." So I was just like, "Can I be your tour manager?" And I kind of just forced them to take me on the road, I guess. So and then you know, it was fun. It was a blast. And then when um I was with them, I met so many great people, you included. And we did this big charity event down in Fort Myers um with the Dirty Roses and a guy named Mickey Lamantia or whatever and uh Tyler was playing with Mickey and we were at this VIP party the next day and I heard him singing and I was like, "Holy crap." Like his voice was just incredible and so I went in and met him and we didn't talk for about 6-7 months after we met and then when he when he had been in a rock band for about 13 years and went solo country cuz that's where his heart is after the fact. So this was first project and uh he sent me a single in like July. He's like, "Hey, I have my first single. You're one of the first people I'm going to let hear it." And I heard it and I was like, "Oh man, this is good." And so I had to convince him to let me manage him. It took a while. He's yeah, you know, people have been burned in the past so um but now we've been working together since September of 24. And so that's who Sarah and I travel with the most. The Waymo's I met the same damn at Taylor and we just kind of became quick friends and we had never talked about management and same September of 24 they were in Nashville. We hung out a lot and Kiera said to me that night she was about to have two brain surgeries and uh you know, in January and she said to me that night she's like, "Just knowing you you've done more for me this week than my label did in 10 years." And she was like, "I love you and if I come out of this I want to work with you." So we started working together about November of 24 and I just love working with them. They're some of my best friends. We just do everything as a team and it's great, you know. We travel a lot together. Tyler will play with them. Um we do a lot of work with Chris Seemore. Just they're just our friends but like Tyler will play with them like as a lead guitar player and then we'll play shows together when we're down in Texas and I really just kind of try to curate everything to where I want to be, you know. So trying to get Tyler out opening for Silverado and then my favorite people are in one place. You know, like this is my goal, you know, it's just to make me happy. >> Now we're now we're on to you. Now we got you. >> this is at my adult. So. >> So, let's let's let's flip that question. What what should a band look for in a manager when they're out shopping around? >> It's a great question. Um you know, I've been really fortunate to know a lot of incredible people and a lot of incredible management groups and label groups such as Milk Key with KP Hawthorne and Adrian and uh Torres Music Group um with Emily and Alex Torres. Like we've just been so lucky to meet such kind wonderful people with great artists that we love and we all work together. But there are a lot of people out there that aren't great people that will take a lot of advantage of people and you just have to find someone you really like and someone you can really trust. I think trust is the biggest piece of it. And it's never going to be easy. You you know, artists are notoriously, you know, they're artists. So, it's hard working with people um and maintaining a professional balance because you do work so closely together that it's inevitable that you become friends or best friends, you know? And so then you've got that line to walk between friendship and management. And you have to be able to give them advice and have them want to take your advice as a manager and sometimes that can be challenging. But you know, it's I just started working with Alex Williams and uh him and Tyler had been chatting online and Alex messaged me. He was like, "Hey, I've been watching what you're doing. I need a manager." And I've never even met Alex. We've been working together now for like four or five months. And uh so far it's good, you know, I'm excited. It's a new, you know, it it just you never know how it's going to come about, but I love his music. Um I've been a fan and always thought it we listened to him a lot on the bus when I was with Taylor and those guys and uh yeah, I mean I think it's cool now that we're working together. I was going to try to go to some of his shows this weekend and then I had these big shows here so I couldn't get away and hopefully I'll meet him at some point soon. But you know, it's you know, it's weird it's because normally I've been friends or like really passionate about working with someone in the past like that I've heard or I've been a part of their lives or something. So yeah, it's weird. You never know how it might happen. But he's great. He's so talented. And him and Tyler like everybody gets along that I work with which I like, you know, we all work with Hannah Montana and we're working on some shows in September and she's like Tyler should open, you know, so it's cool that everybody kind of gets along and that's just well and I think that's really important because you have to like all these bigger groups I don't know maybe ideally I'll be a big group one day but you know, they've got you know, say who are they've got Whiskey Myers, right? So then they take on newer artists that get to play with these huge artists. >> Right. >> you know, tour as like they've got Braxton Keith who's incredible and he just blew up and he he's just killing it right now. They're doing such a great job with him and then they take their other artists they'll have them open for Braxton to give them that you know, bigger crowd to get in front of and I don't have that yet cuz like all my people are kind of at the same place but everybody's doing good festivals and getting big gigs and doing cool stuff and it's all we can ask for, you know, just to keep growing. So but yeah, trust is the biggest piece. >> I think that's I think that's very true. I think um when you when you actually care for the people that you're working for, you want to see them succeed. Rising Rising tides raise all ships, right? >> Yeah. They're not a number and that and that's where I had a a group that I was working with for a while and uh they they had their lawyer email me and say that we were going had part ways. I was like, really? So I called them up. I'm like, "Really? You know, I just talked to you for an hour on the phone last night. You couldn't have told me." And uh they're young and they're like, "Yeah, someone in Nashville, one of our people told us we had to drop our small management company to be available for a large management company." And I you know, I get it. It's cool. I'm not mad. It's fine. Like I still talk to them. I think they're adorable. They're great. They're young. They'll learn. You know, because I said I was like, "Well, you know, all that PR I got you, you never paid me a dollar." >> Wow. Yeah. >> Get ready cuz it ain't going to come cheap or free anymore. >> Yeah. >> And I don't know if they have a management deal or anything yet, but for about a year and a half, so. But >> Yeah, sounds like um allowing room for some allowing room for like maybe some mistakes, but also not burning bridges. Like let's all let's all work well together, play together, and be nice. And I think I would like to maybe I don't know them, but maybe give them a little credit where they probably liked you so much they didn't know how to confront you themselves. >> That is exactly what it was. And that's what I mean. I'm not mad, but I'm just saying like you go and you find that bigger company and you're not going to be that passion project. You know, you're just going to be that I mean it it it is I'm sure it'll work out. It's good. I like again, yeah, it's it's Everybody just has to work together because the business is too hard not to. Like it's so hard to be competitive. Like why? Like it's there's no need for it. If everybody just helps each other, it'll make life so much easier. Yeah. >> What would you describe as um you know, to kind of stray away from the script a little bit, what would you describe in your mind as like a um a personal level of success? >> Oh man. I mean I feel like I've hit so many cool milestones already, yet I feel like I've not done enough. You know, I mean, I've been I've gotten to work Red Rocks and been backstage at Red Rocks. I've gotten to work the Ryman. Like things like my favorite places, being able to work them is incredible. You know, so for me, that's success. I don't really put a financial thing on it cuz money is so hard. Um you know, sure I'd love to have money one day. Maybe I will, maybe I won't, who knows. But I mean, I we started our company and our goal was 3 years to have a South by Southwest and AmericanaFest showcase. And within 3 weeks we had a South by Southwest showcased. And um that was wild. And now it's like we're kind of known as the people who can throw the best parties. And that to me, like Trigger said to me once, he uh Trigger from Saving Country Music, um he was at one of my events and he's like I just met him recently and he's like "I don't really know what you do or how you do it." He's like, "But you have these parties and every band is killer and every artist that's cool and on the rise are at your events hanging out with the other artists." He's like, "And that is really something special." And like I just started crying cuz that to me, that's success. So like networking and connecting people and you know, if somebody needs something, knowing who I can connect them with to get them what they need, that's always been what's like my forte and that I love. >> Yeah. Yeah, connecting dots. >> Connecting the dots and like I mean, throwing parties at Arlene's Grocery, going to Luck Reunion, like petting Willie Nelson's horses. Did I ever in my life think that would be a thing I did? And now I feel like we're part of that family with Arlene and Lisa and Freddy Fletcher are amazing and it's it's wild. It's wild. And you know, people were like, man, this is the party of all parties. This is the place to be at. Like, that to me is success. Like, that's cool to me. So. >> I think that's true. I think that's, you know, uh is everyone, you know, surviving the road? >> That That was what I was going to say. Sorry. >> Bless you. Is everyone surviving the road? Did uh did we play the shows? Everyone made it back happy, healthy. And then are we continuing the relationship down the road? I think that's very successful. >> 100%. Me, too. >> Yeah. And and hopefully, you know, um money will follow, but you know what? As long as we're putting fuel in the truck and food in our bellies, I think we're we're doing all right. >> And playing fun shows and living your life. That's it. You know, it's like so many people say, oh, it must be nice to live this life you live. And I'm like, hey, you can be as irresponsible as me because, you know, I had a lot of money. Guess what? Now I have $0 cuz I've been living like Mick Jagger for 10 years. And it's fine. I don't care. I don't regret one second of it. I do live the life I want to live and I will continue to do so. And you know, I might every credit card I own is maxed out right now. Money will come around. It's fine. I'm still making my way to Texas. I'm still making my way to Nashville. It it'll all work. >> Amen. I heard that, sister. Believe me. >> We all feel that way. You know, I just I do hate it when people say that to me. I'm just like, just because you choose to work a 9-5 and sit in a cubicle and be miserable all day, that's your choice. It's not mine. So. >> Well, you know, we live in a society that is very heavy on uh optics, you know? Social media adds to that where, you know, they see you and I hanging out at the Broadberry in Richmond and they think we're kings and queens or something, but it's like it's just different, you know? It's just different. >> We Of course, everything you put on social media is the good stuff, you know, when you look good, unlike right now. Uh you know, when you're you're having a great time, you don't really post much about sleeping in a gas station or in a campground and maybe not being able to shower for a couple days, but whatever, who cares? >> Yeah. Or like, you know, "Oh man, we're behind on the credit card, you know, a month or two." You know, those There's There's a lot of There's a lot of ugly that I think people in this underground industry will understand and they get it. >> Yeah. >> But yeah, you know, you're not going to go on a rant and talk about that. So, Danielle like I said, I like to keep it short and sweet. I don't want to eat up too much more of your time. Is there anything you want to um quick promo, something going on at the club? >> Um yeah, we've got a really cool special thing um coming out that I think is amazing. Um Read Southall, I don't know if you know Read, he played with Charles Wesley Godwin and he plays with Zach Bryan. Um who J- J.R. Carroll is also in that band and we've got J.R. coming to play a show at the club for us, uh which is pretty cool. And we've got Mindy Miller, who is a dear, dear friend out of Nashville. She was just recently on The Voice. She messaged me and hit me up. She's like, "What do you got going on?" I'm like, "Perfect day, you want to be on this show?" And then I have Cole Winter Ledbetter, who's the guy I manage out of Bedford, PA. He's killing it. I He's such a good songwriter and a poet, just a wonderful human being. Um it's a three-person bill, they're all on it. It's May 10th here at the club. It's going to be great. It's a Sunday night. So, that's really exciting. What else do we have coming up? Um I'm excited. I get a bucket list item coming up next month. We're uh Tyler and the Wayfarers and our buddy Rob Lomas uh and I'm a Bearcat, a bunch of people that we love are all playing the Tennessee Motorcycle Revival at Loretta Lynn's Ranch. >> Oh, wow. >> Yeah, we're so excited. A couple years ago Summer Dean played it and I was like, "Oh man, that looks so cool." And Kira um from the Wayfarers made that happen for us. So, we're really excited about that. Uh Tyler's playing Honky Tonk Queens this coming month. That's not far from you. >> A little bit, a little bit, a couple hours away. >> That's next week. So, or no, it's this week. Oh my god, it's this Friday. So, I'm going to Brooklyn on Thursday. Yeah, all kinds of fun stuff. >> Awesome. So, where can we find you on the socials? Where can we find Keystone and all your artists? Like, are they in a central hub? >> Yep, yep, we've got a website because we also have a Texas side of Keystone where we've got Jade Marie Patek, Victoria Camp, and Colby does some consulting for some other folks also. Everybody is listed on our website, which is keystoneartistsconnect.com. And then, um, I think all of the socials, I think it's Keystone Artist Connect is the main one, and then it's Keystone Texas and Keystone Nashville. Um, Nashville, we're still kind of building up. We did a kickoff. We've got a girl Candace that works with us there, and she had been working at Skinny Dennis for the past year and has been buried because it was the first year they were open. So, we're working on some stuff with her now, and hopefully more will come out of Nashville soon. But, all of our artists are on the website, and then you can click to all of their pages from there as well. >> Very cool. Well, stay on the line with me for just a minute longer, but we'll end our podcast here. >> Thanks, Cam. >> Thank you.

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Anna Victoria

Inside North Carolina's Appalachian Music Scene | Anna Victoria

Anna Victoria joins Camden for an honest conversation about growing up in the mountains of North Carolina, discovering her voice as a songwriter and navigating life as an independent Country and Americana artist. We talk about learning to perform live, protecting her voice, finding confidence on stage, the influence of Appalachian music and artists such as Luke Combs, Sierra Ferrell and Dolly Parton, balancing music with motherhood, and the challenge of staying creative in a world driven by social media. It's a thoughtful conversation about music, family, creativity and staying true to yourself while building a career in independent music. Chapters 00:00 – Introductions, Weaverville, childhood. 02:00 – Singing, vocal health and beginning her musical journey. 06:00 – The pandemic, booking gigs and developing as a live performer. 09:00 – Coping with distractions, confidence and performing. 12:00 – Appalachian influences, Luke Combs, Sierra Ferrell, Dolly Parton and mountain songwriting. 15:00 – Family life, being a stay-at-home mum, social media and balancing music with everyday life. #lukecombs #sierraferrell #dollyparton Subscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music! Listen to the full podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wnHcgA73o1aiiKaz882vH?si=30aabdaa220a4628 Follow The Rugged Revival: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruggedrevival/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theruggedrevival Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094507520679 Website: www.theruggedrevival.com Email: ruggedrevival@hotmail.com

14 July 2026· 22:27

Ben Morrison

The Brothers Comatose: Ben Morrison on 18 Years of Music, Family & Touring

Ben Morrison of The Brothers Comatose joins the Rugged Revival Podcast for an honest conversation about nearly two decades ...

9 July 2026· 51:23

Pat Reedy

Pat Reedy on Busking, Nashville & Building a Country Music Career

Pat Reedy joins Camden to discuss leaving construction behind for country music, busking in New Orleans, life in Nashville, ...

7 July 2026· 22:43

Mike Tod

Keeping Traditional Folk Music Alive in Nashville | Mike Tod Podcast

Mike Tod joins Camden to discuss traditional folk music, Canadian roots, life in Nashville, forgotten songs, unusual instruments and why preserving musical history still matters today.Originally from Canada and now based in Nashville, Mike explores the stories behind traditional songs, the connections between folk music around the world and how old music continues to influence modern artists. We also discuss his unique "Crankenstein" instrument, musical curiosity, collecting songs from the past and the importance of keeping traditions alive for future generations.Chapters00:00 Introduction00:00:30 Growing Up in Canada00:02:20 Discovering Music & The Crankenstein00:04:10 The Story Behind The Crankenstein00:05:20 Drones, Folk Traditions & Ancient Music00:08:10 Learning Guitar & Performing Original Songs00:09:40 Accessing Traditional Music in the Digital Age00:11:20 Researching Music History00:12:10 Playing The Crankenstein Live00:14:00 Creating Atmospheric Sounds & Live Performance00:16:00 Traditional Songs & Musical Origins00:17:50 The Artists Influencing Mike Today00:19:20 Studying Philosophy & Creative Thinking00:22:00 Horror, Heavy Music & Folk Culture00:24:00 Scottish Heritage & Family History00:27:10 Final ThoughtsSubscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music!Listen to the full podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wnHcgA73o1aiiKaz882vH?si=30aabdaa220a4628Follow The Rugged Revival:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruggedrevival/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theruggedrevivalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094507520679Website: www.theruggedrevival.comEmail: ruggedrevival@hotmail.com

23 June 2026· 27:13